Embalming device



Aug. 17, 1937. R. 1 WAGNER EMBALMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, .1953

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for holding and dispensing aliquid under predetermined conditions and particularly to a device forholding and dispensing embalming liquids which are to be injected bygravity. However, the

device of this invention is not limited to such use as it may be used inconnection with syringes, and in hospitals. laboratories, and similarplaces where a regular, constant, and slow flow of a liquid is desired,and when it is desired that the rate of flow shall at all times bevisually indicated to the operator.

Receptacles which have heretofore been used for holding embalmingliquids that are to be dispensed by gravity have not been entirelysatisfactory in that no provision was made for obtaining a constant iiowof the liquid regardless of the amount of liquid in the receptacle. Dueto the change in the hydrostatic head the flow would be greater at thebeginning of the injection than at the end. Also such receptacles had nomeans whereby the operator could at all times see at what rate theliquid was being injected and consequently immediately be apprised of astoppage of the ow of the liquid due to an obstruction in the body.Furthermore, in such receptacles, no means were provided for preventingair from entering the body after the last of the liquid was injectedwith the result that tissue gas frequently formed in the body.

The present invention overcomes the objections to embalming devices thathave heretofore been used by providing a main transparent liquidholdingreceptacle and by providing between that receptacle and the injectionneedle means for regulating and visually indicating to the operator therate at which the liquid is being injected into the body.

The regulating and indicating means preferably comprises a transparentchamber for receiving the liquid from the main receptacle which acts asa reservoir for the liquid to be injected. This chamber contains floatactuated valves which control the admission and discharge of the liquidto and from the chamber. That valve is so controlled that apredetermined amount of the liquid will be maintained in the dispensingchamberl as long as liquid remains in the reservoir chamber. The outletvalve is maintained open as long as a predetermined amount of liquidremains in the chamber, but in normal operation closes before all of theliquid is dispensed from the chamber so that the tube leading therefrom5,; to the injection needle will remain filled with the liquid and aircannot pass therethrough and into the body. However, means are providedwhereby the operator may, if he so desires, cause the last of the liquidto ilow from the dispensing chamber. 5

As the liquid flows from the main reservoir receptacle into thedispensing chamber it is deiiected to one side so that the operator maysee at what rate the liquid is flowing into the dispensing chamber andconsequently the rate at 10 which it is being injected intoy the body.Of course, if the ow from the dispensing chamber to the body ceases,liquid no longer lflows into the dispensing chamber and that factimmediately is made apparent to the operator. 15

Advantages other than those enumerated above will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,but it is to be understood that this further disclosure and descriptionis by Way of exemplication and that the invention is not limited theretoexcept as is specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the dispensingchamber and the lower portion of the main reservoir receptacle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through 30 the outlet valve of thedispensing chamber showing the same open for draining the chamber; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing I is a generally cone-shaped, transparent or glass liquidholding receptacle provided with handles 2 formed on opposite sides,adjacent the upper edge, whereby the receptacle may be suspended from aceiling or other support. The formation of the handles integrally withthe body eliminates the necessity of attaching a metal band such as isordinarily used for suspending such receptacle and which obstructs theview to the upper part of the receptacle. If desired, the glassreceptacle l may be suitably` graduated so that the operator may notethe eX- act amount of the liquid'remaining in the receptacle or theamount which has already been dispensed therefrom.

The receptacle I diverges upwardly and the entire upper end is left openso that it will be easy to introduce the liquid to be dispensed.

Located between the reservoir receptacle l and The glass vessel 4 isrigidly held in the metal frame consisting of a top member 1, a bottommember G, and tie rods 9 located on diametrically u' of the rods B.

. of the rubber tube is opposite sides of the vessel. The top member 1forms a closure for the open upper end ofthe vessel 4 and has its edgeI0 flanged to extend beyond and around the upper side of the vessel. i

A suitable vent 1 is provided so that a uniform flow of liquid from thevessel may be obtained. The bottom lmember `8 is shaped to conform tothe hemispherical bottonrof` the vessel 4 and is provided with anopening II through which the nipple 5 and the rubber tube 6 pass. Theend ilared as at I2 to provide suitable packing between the vessel 4 andthe bottoni member 8. The bottom member 8, like the top member 1, has aflange I3 which extends outwardly beyond the vessel 4. The flanges I andhave aligned openings for the tie rods 9. The cpeningsin the flange I0are slightly larger than the rods 9 so that the rods may freely passtherethrough while the openings in the flange I3 are threaded to receivethe threaded lower ends The upper ends of the rods y9 are provided withwings I4 so that the rods may readily be turned with the ngers to screwtheir lower ends into the threaded openings of the lower member 8 torigidly connect the upper and lower members to the vessel 4.

When the dispensing chamber is connected directly to the receptacle I aconnecting member i5 having a threaded lower end is inserted in thetapering neck at the lower end of the receptacle I I and the threadedend screwed into a threaded central opening I6 in the top member 1 untilthe receptacle is rigidly secured to the top member. A. resilient washerI1 may be interposed between the head I8 of the member I5 and the neckof the receptacle I to prevent breakage of the latter, and a packingwasher I9 is preferably placed between the neck of the receptacle I andthe top member l of the dispensing chamber to insure a liquidtightconnection at that point. The head I8 of the connecting member I5 iskerfed at 20 to facilitate screwing the member into the top member 1.

Liquid passes from the receptacle I to the dispensing chamber throughthe connecting member iii, and to that end the connecting member isprovided with a relatively small bore 2| at its upper end and arelatively large bore 22 extending from the bore 2| to the lower end ofthe member.

For cont-(rolling the flow of liquid fromthe receptacle I tothedispensing chamber, and from the dispensing chamber to the injectingneedle 3,

a hollow metal float 23 is located within the vessel and is xedlysecured .on a .valve rod 24 which has its upper end extending intothebore 22 of the connecting member I5 at the upperend of the chamberand its lower end extending through the `nipple 5 at the bottom of thevessel. The diameter of the valve rod is considerably less than'thediameter of the bore 22 of the member l5 and the inner diameter of thenipple `5 so that ample space is provided for the liquid to flow aboutthe rod through the bore 22 and the nipple 5. However, the diameter ofthe rod is greater than that of the bore 2| of the member I5. The upperend of the rod 24 is provided with a conical valve 25 so that when apredetermined amount of liquid has flowed from the receptacle I-into thevessel 4 and has caused the float 23 therein to rise, the valve 25 willseat against the end of the bore 2| and prevent further flow of theliquid into the vessel 4 until some of the liquid therein flows outthrough the nipple 5.

Positioned within the rubber tube 6 adjacent the lower end of the nipple5 is a cylindrical valve member 26 which has the lower end thereofclosed except for a central opening 21 through which liquid from thevessel 4 may flow to the injection needle. The lower end of the valverod 24 is provided with a conical valve 28 which, when the float 23descends, is caused to seat on the edges of the opening 21 and preventfurther discharge of the liquid from `the vessel 4."r The float 23 willbe so made that the valve 28 will be caused to seat on the edges of theopening 21 just before all of the Vliquid ows from the vessel 4 so thatthe tube ,6 will remain filled with the liquid in order to prevent airfrom passing through the tube into the bodywhere it would form tissuegas. However, if the operator desiresto drain the Vessel 4 it is onlynecessary that he grasp the valve member 26 with his fingers and pull itdown to the position shown in Fig. 3. When the valve member 26 islowered to that extent, the float 23 will rest on the bottom of theglass vessel 4 and the valve k28 will be suspended above operatorrelease the member 26 when, due to the resiliency of the rubber tube,vit will bereturned to the posit-ion shown in 2.

vIn Fig. 2 the vessel is shown as being empty and with the valve 23resting on the edges of the opening 21. AIl." liquid is now poured intothe vessel 4 it will flow through the and down around the valve rod 24until it encounters the deflector 29. It will then run along the surfaceof the deflector and drip from the lower edge thereof into the bottom ofthe vessel 4. When a predetermined amount of the liquid hask run intothe vessel 4 the float 23l will rise and open the valve 21. On continuedupward movement of the float the valve 25 will engage the edges of thebore 2| to stop further flow lfrom the receptacle I. of liquid flowingfrom the receptaclefl will be in accordance with into the body, and asthe flow will be deflected by and dropped from the disc 2B, the operatormay readily see at what rate the liquid is being injected, or if theflow through the needle stops due to an obstruction in the body thatfact can also be noted by the operator. After all ofthe liquid hasflowed from the receptacle I into the gradually cause the float `23 tobe lowered until the valve 28 yengages the edges of the opening 21 andstops further discharge from the vessel` 4. Thereafter if it is desiredto'drain the vessel 4 26 and lower itin the' mannerV previouslydescribed. f

The rubber tubing i is graduated `as vshown at B' so that the operatormay determine at 'just therefrom. As soon as all Thereafter, the amountthe amount being injected bores 2| and 22 :'45

vessel 4, further discharge from the vessel 4 will '65 the operatorneedonly grasp the valve `member what pressure the embalming liquid isbeing injected. That is desirable as the pressure at the injectionnozzle should vary depending upon the cause of death, size of body,condition of body, and other conditions which the undertaker has tocontend with. As the iioat 23 maintains a constant hydraulic head on theliquid in the tube 6 to get any desired pressure at the injection nozzleit is only necessary to raise or lower the reservoir receptacle I. Thegraduations 6 read downwardly from the vessel 4 so in order to read thepressure existing at the injection nozzle it is only necessary to holdthe receptacle l directly over the point of injection and read down thetube to a point level with the injection point.

From the aforegoing, itl will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a satisfactory and eiiicient means for dispensing a liquidunder a regular and constant ow, and where it is desirable that the rateat which the liquid is dispensed shall at all times be visuallyindicated to the operator. Furthermore, the `present invention providesa device which is particularly adapted for dispensing an embalmingliquid by gravity and for cutting off the flow of that liquid before thesupply is entirely exhausted whereby air is prevented from entering thebody where it would form tissue gas.

I claim:-

1. A device for injecting liquids by gravity which comprises a reservoirreceptacle, a dispensing chamber located beneath said reservoirreceptacle and in communication therewith, said dispensing chamberhaving at least a portion of the wall thereof transparent, a verticallyoperating valve for closing the passage between the reservoir receptacleand the dispensing chamber, and a deflector on the valve stem forcausing liquid iiowing therealong to be deflected therefrom in a singlestream and to cause the rate at which liquid is iiowing into saiddispensing chamber to be visually indicated.

2. In a device of the character described, a dispensing chamber having adischarge outlet, a rubber tube having one end thereof secured to thedispensing chamber for conducting away liquid which passes through saidoutlet, a valve seat in said tube, a valve cooperating with said seatand operable to seat thereon when liquid in the dispensing chamberreaches a predetermined low level, said rubber tubing permitting thevalve seat to be moved away from said valve a sulcient distance afterthe Valve has seated thereon to permit the dispensing chamber to bedrained.

3. In a device of the character described, a reservoir receptacle, adispensing chamber in communication therewith and having a dischargeoutlet including a valve seat, means for regu- 4. In a device of thecharacter described, a

reservoir receptacle, a dispensing chamber in communication therewithand having a discharge outlet including a valve seat, means forregulating the flow of liquid from the reservoir receptacle to thedispensing chamber in accordance with the rate at which liquid isdispensed from said chamber, a valve cooperating with said seat andoperable to close the outlet when liquid in the dispensing chamberreaches a predetermined low level, and means whereby said seat may bemoved away from said valve a dis'- tance sufficient to permit thedispensing chamber to be drained.

5. In a device of the character described, a reservoir receptacle, adispensing chamber in communication therewith having a discharge outlet,means' for regulating the flow of liquid from the reservoir receptacleto the dispensing chamber in accordance with the rate at which liquidflows from said chamber, a rubber tube having one end thereof secured tothe dispensing chamber for conducting away liquid which passes throughsaid outlet, a valve seat in said tube, a valve cooperating with saidseat and operable to close the outlet when liquid in the dispensingchamber reaches a predetermined low level, said rubber tube permittingthe valve seat to thereafter be moved from said valve a distancesuiiicient to permit the dispensing chamber to be drained.

6. In a device of the character described, a reservoir receptacle, adispensing chamber in communication therewith and having a dischargeoutlet, a float controlled valve for regu lating .the flow of liquid tosaid dispensing chamber, a rubber tube having one end thereof secured tothe dispensing chamber for conducting away liquid which passes throughthe outlet therefrom, a valve seat in said tube, a float controlledvalve cooperating with said seat and operable to seat thereon when theliquid in the dispensing chamber reaches a predetermined low level, saidrubber tubing permitting the valve seat thereafter to be moved from saidvalve a distance sufcient to permit the draining of the dispensingchamber.

ROY L. WAGNER.

